Title: Selection 3:Boss of the Plains The Hat that Won the West
1Selection 3Boss of the PlainsThe Hat that Won
the West
- Written by Laurie Carlson
- Illustrated by Holly Meade
2Awards
- ALA Notable
- CBC Choices
- Horn Book Fanfare
- New York Public Library Title for Reading and
Sharing
3Genre Biography
- A true story of the life of a real person.
4Selection Summary
As a boy, John Stetson worked in his fathers
New Jersey hat factory. In 1859, on his way west
looking for adventure, he invented a practical
hat for his own use. The style suited Western
life so well that Stetson became the manufacturer
of the most popular hat in the West.
5Key Concept
6Key Vocabulary
- Adventurers
- Determined
- Frontier
- Gear
- Opportunity
- Pioneers
- Settlers
- Tanned
- Wranglers
7Adventurers travelers in search of unusual or
exciting experiences
The streets were filled with adventurers heading
to explore the West.
8Determined sticking to a purpose
John was determined to start a new life in St.
Joseph, Missouri, and he would not give up until
he succeeded.
9Frontier unexplored land
People were headed to the frontier to search for
gold.
10Gear equipment used for a specific activity
In St. Joseph, Missouri, people bought gear and
supplies for their journey to the goldfields.
11Opportunity a good chance
John Stetson found the opportunity to head West
when a group of travelers invited him along on
their journey to Pikes Peak.
12Pioneers people who are the first to settle in
a region
Pioneers settled on the lands of the West before
others came out to join them.
13Settlers people who travel to a little known
area and make a home
At first, settlers and travelers in the American
West wore whatever hats they had worn back home.
14Tanned changed animal hide to leather by
soaking it in chemicals
The settlers thought they might be able to use
rabbit skins to make a tent if they could be
properly tanned.
15Wranglers cowboys
John Stetson decided to make a hat for the
wranglers of the West.
16Strategy focus Summarize
- This biography tells how the Boss of the Plains
hat was invented and became a success. Stop at
different points in the story to summarize key
events.
17Comprehension Skill Focus Making
Generalizations
- You can use a chart to list details from the
story and then formulate generalizations from
those details. - Generalizations are statements about the story
that are generally true.
18Enjoy Selection 3 Boss of the Plains
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relating to - Boss of the Plains.